MattK

Nice idea, but assuming the top eight from the previous GP qualify straight into the GP and eight available spots were made available through the Friday meeting, how many riders do you think would "fancy their chances" - and what would be the standard of the field?

http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/ind...showtopic=42965

Do you know, thanks to extensive market research, that the reason people are not coming to speedway is the cost? If you cut the price to £5 a head, then the promoter will need to attract three times as many paying customers just to break even (at the gate). Where are these three times as many people going to come from? Are they sitting at home, wishing they could afford to go to speedway but can't? I don't believe they are to be honest. The other thing to consider is - can clubs actually handle three times as many people turning up? Where are they going to park? Where are they going to stand? I've been to a few exceptionally busy meetings (Swindon play-off final for example) and it was chaos.

How do you know the DVD on eBay (which is blanently copied off Sky) has the last four heats on it?

But I thought Sky+ was so easy to use even Ross Kemp's Nan's dog could use it?

Looking at those line-ups, I reckon we can win it.

What time does it start tonight?

I blame the designers for not making it symmetrical.

Totally agree. Stead and Allen had a job to do, regardless of whether they're riding in the next round or not. Lynch took a gamble with home track riders and it failed. Move on.

Last train from Cardiff to Swindon on a Saturday is 22:00 - so a total non-starter. Last train from Paddington to Swindon is 23:37 - so it would be cutting it fine trying to get from Wembley to Paddington if you stayed til the end (we left the stadium at about quarter to 11 on Saturday night), unless you left straight after the final heat.

I know a few people who have been "stranded" at the o2 when the tubes stop at midnight, despite people still waiting on the platform. The only people I know who've been to Wembley went in the afternoon. Maybe the GP could have a 3pm start?

Has anyone actually been to the new Wembley? What's it like at the end of an event when 40,000 people all decend on the tube station?

I think you'll find that happens automatically.

Hahaha. I wouldn't go as far as calling it "frenzied" - there was a little old lady in from of us who fratically clapped Pedersen every time though. Maybe it was him Mum?

What section were you in?

I thought the overall presentation was excellent and the music both the variety and volume (loud) really added to the overall atmosphere, which was far better than anything I've ever experienced at club level. Thank God there was no Duffy, Scouting for Boys, Mika (until the fireworks) like we get at Swindon. Ironically, I actually thought the atmosphere died down whilst the races were happening and then picked up again when the music started.

Nicki Pedersen was stood on the little step with a number 3 on it at the end of the meeting, so I'd hazard a guess that it was him.

Yes, it is trying to cheat the officials into giving a wrong decision, but no, they won't get slagged off as cheating is endemic in football. Something we don't want to happen in speedway.

What happens to the rider who "picked" gate four then?

I don't care about the track, these are "supposed" to be the best rider in the World, they should be able to ride some ruts. I thought last night was absolutely superb. If club speedway could have just 1/100th of the atmosphere of last night then local tracks would be packing them in week in week out. The presentation was spot on, the music was great (and loud, as it should be) and yes, there was plenty of drama, courtesy of Mr Pedersen, but as others have said, that's him job and the booing will be water off a duck's back to him.

I'm sure the forum pedants will more than happily trawl back though this thread to quote people's before and after comments.

After watching him last Thursday I think he at least deserves a chance ahead of the likes of Ollie Allen.

This site has a link to the SopCast channel, and you can follow live updates here.

Apart from Rune Holta, who is a cyborg, sent back from the year 2082 and disguised in the body of a speedway rider.

Is it really going to be that busy? I was planning on getting there at my usual time (ok, a bit before 7.29).